Bowling pin setting machine



July 12, 1960 W. L. WELLS Orginval4 Filed March 24, 1948 26 2a /10 HG,

BOWLING PIN SETTING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 AToRNE July 12, 1960 w. L. WELLS 2,944,818

` BOWLING PIN SETTING MACHINE original Filed March 24, 1948 6 sheets-sheet 2 FIG. 2

INVENTOR WILLIS L. WELLS ATTORNEY July 12, 1960 w. l.. WELL- s v 2,944,818

BOWLING PIN SETTING MACHINE Original Filed Manch 24, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 26 2@ jf@ 44 FlG, 3 3230 11044 6 INVENTOR WILLIS L. WELLS ATTORNEY July 12, 1960 w. L. wELLs 2,944,818

BOWLING PIN SETTING MACHINE s sheets-sheet' 4 original Filed Narcn 24, 1948 SYM/5,

"ATTORNEY July 12, 1960 w. WELLS BOWLING PIN SETTING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed March 24, 1948 I l l I l l l l 1|...

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Q GHOMON@ J86@ @@Q@ Erl INVENTOR wlLLls l.. wELLs but ATTORN July l2, F1960 w. L. WELLS 2,944,818

BOWLING PIN SETTING MACHINE Original Filed March 24, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Fns. |18

INVENToR WILLIS L. WELLS 2,944,818 BOWLING PIN sErrlNG MACHINE 19 claims; (cran-43) This invention relates to blowing'pin spottingmalin view, the invention consists in certain combinations chines and more particularlyin improvements in vma pins incident to their removallfrom the pit o f a' bowling chines for automatically spotting andrespotting pins Von alley and replacement'in playingarrangement on the kplaying bed. t a.

Problems encountered in thedesignand construction of the bowling pin spotting machines are those of ref" ducing weight, simplifying their design, and providingV l mechanism which will'handle 4bowling pins `eiiciently and withaminimum of wearand tear. A'

This application constitutes a division of application S .N. 716,725, `liled March 2 4,r 1948," for BoW-ling'Pin Setting Machine, and now Patent No, 2,707,636.V

The present invention relates to a ma'cliinefwhich is lighter in weight, relativelyrsimple in design, and easy to control. The pins handled are subjected 'to lesswear and tear on removal yfrom the pit of the alley"ai1d'-.on

beingdelivered to the necessary pin spotting mechanism.

The ball, also, is handled by improved mechanismy which tends to substantially reduce or eliminate chipping and unnecessary wear in its removal from the .pit and delivery to the player.

The invention solves the 'problem 'of` Vpins in a simple and expeditious manner into triangular arrangement for' delivery/[bythe spotter ontothe playing alley.' This is accomplishedy by providing avsubstantially vertically positioned pin-magazine having triangularly'ar- [ranged pin supporting stations corresponding'withfthe positions normally occupied by standingpins on the =alley.

'A conveyor, which rreceives the pinsjinthe pit of the Valley, is responsible for theldelivery ofthe p ins into the several stations inthe,y magazine where 'theyfarepositioned other, with their handle ends' .projecting outwardlyfrom .themagazine A pin spotter provided with triangularly arranged gripping-.members is movedfinto positionfadjacent the magazine.' The members grip 'thehandle ends 'in Vsubstantially horizontal Yarrangement, v onefabove the of the pins inthe magazine after which, the spottervmovles :i= awaygfrom the magazine and in so doing,y a fulllvsetkof i pins is movedthereby horizontally vout ofthe magazine and delivered in proper playing position onto .the 'playing .bedofthealley. 'j w- .Y

The invention also solves the prob-lempof storing oneor `l i' more sets'- of pins and holding themin'reservewhileone or more sets of pins is Abeing usedor'engaged active play. According to the invention, wheneverdesired, pins in reservecanbe removed yfrom storageQand quicklyfsub f stituted for active pins which are placed in storage. It is anobject of the'invention to provide animproved 'bowl-ing pin spotting machine which ,is relatively simple in construction-and 'capable of handlingpinswith a mim'- mum of wear and tear,th ereby increasing the life of each 4pin handled by theseveral machine.

ence indicate the same or like parts;

Vsets of pins.

.Patented July 12, 1960 is@ ,A

pin engaging parts of" the The invention also consists in the provision of improved pin vtriangularizing mech-anism which includes a vertically arranged magazine into which pins are deliver- Aed in substantially triangular formation corresponding vto-the positions the several pins will assume when transl ferred by thepin spotter from the magazine and placed on the playing bed of the alley.

With these and other objects not specifically mentioned and constructions which will be hereinafter fully described, vand then set forth in the claims hereunto appendedV t t In theaccornpanying drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments on the invention and form a part of the specification, and in which like characters of refer- .Figure l is a sectional front elevation-#taken on line 1-1 of Figure 2- illustratingY a preferred form of triangularizing pin magazine, and pin and' ball elevating mechanisms;" v Figure 2 is' a sectional side elevation-taken on line 2-2 of Figure l-illustrating the pinmagazine yin conjunction with apin spotting table', Yand means for sweeping the pins .from an alley .bed into a pit from which the pins are conveyed into the pin magazine; 1

Figure 3 is a partial sectional front elevation of the pin. :magazine showing a modilied for-m of construction of the triangularizing section of the pin magazine; Figure' 4 is asection plan viewtaken on line 4-4'of Figure l-illustrating the, ball elevator, and a portion of the pin conveyor of the magazine;

Figuresi and 6 are front elevations of two modified v'stations of the triangularizing rack of the pin magazine;

magazine illustrating'the successive step in the sequence -ofoperationsinvolved in automatically .transferring two Asets of pinsin storage from `the storage bln to the triangularizing or rack section of themagazine and to the alley bed, and depositing two setsv of pins in use from the rack VYsection of the machine and alley bedvintothe storage bin.j` Y

Figure 18 is a 'wiring diagram illustratinga-,suitablc lelectrical control mechanism necessary `to effect a normal operationof-the machine, as .well .as achanging ofr pins inthe'Same. M A, 'Figure 19 isa view of a modified control which can be used withy thel circuit `shown in Figure 18 to change single T- he bowling pin setting machine selected for purposes of illustration, consists `chiefly of -a magazine M, a `pin seting table T, an alley sweep S and a pit sweep PS. Within the magazine M, are arranged a pin conveyor CO, a triangularizng or rack section R, a ball lift L', a ball elevator E, anda--pin storage bin SB. The m-agazineM consists of an upright rectangular housing or frame 25 which at -its four corners carries a number of suitably mounted studs 26 on each of which rare vloosely mounted pairs of spaced sprockets 28 on which run two spaced endless chains 30 which form part `of thepin conveyor. CO. Chains 30 are connected, by

means of equally spaced bars 32 and are driven by a pair of sprockets 34 mounted on a shaft 36 supported by suitable bearings attached to magazine housing 25. Shaft 36 -is ldriven by means of a suitable pulley (not shown) attached thereto through a belt 38 lfrom a pin conveyor drive motor 40. A number Vof pivotally mounted cradles or flight 42 are equidistantly spaced along chains 30 (Fig. 1), and each flight is provided with a pair of guide shoes 44 employed for positioning the several flight properly when passing through the various sections o-f the magazine M, as described hereinfater. Flights 42 convey pins from lower chamber F (Figures 1 and 2) of magazine M, into which the pins are delivered by pit sweep PS, to thetriangularizing or rack section R. While passing through the lower chamber F, flight 42 together with chains 30 and bars 32, from a more or less horizontal moving band conveyor or moving oor onto kwhich the pins are deposited by pitsweep PS. As the chains turn the right lower corner of magazine M, and move verti- Acally upward (Fig. l), each flight on which a pin is resting carries it upward, the latter resting in a horizontal position thereon.

Since it isnecessary that all pins delivered into the triangularizing or rack section R protrude with their heads in a forward direction toward the pin supporting bed of the alley, all pins conveyed by flights 42 must also lie with their heads or handle ends forward. lf a pin comes to rest on a flight 42 in a butt end forward direction, such pin mustbe oriented or have its position changed to a head forward direction before reaching the triangular rack section R. The necessary change in position or orienting of pins can be effected by causing pin conveyorCO Vto move through a horizontal, substantially U-shaped loop channel U (Fig. 1). While passing through the lower portion of channel U, flights 42 assume a vertical position, such that a pin engaged by a flight isrolled or pushed in a barrel-like -fashion substantially horizontallyV over the bottom position designated generally 50. Bottom portion 50 is provided with a pair of suitable spaced guide` rails 52 employed for the purpose of facilitating the rolling of the pins and assuring their horizontal movement. The bottom portion 50 of the channel is so designed as to provide a narrowV bridge -plate 54 (Figures 1 and 2) which bridges the 'rearV por; tion of a chute 56. .The latter is equipped with a'rpair of spaced suitably curved pin reversing plates-58 and', on its bottom portion, provided with an opening 60 ,leading to the ascending -section pin conveyor CO.V All pins which are lifted from'the lower chamber F by flights 42, and lare conveyed upwardly thereby in a head forward position, yare easily and safely rolled or pushed over the narrowbridge plate 54 asillustratedpin broken lines by pin 100 in Figure 2. lf, however, a pin is moved into channel U in a butt-end forward position, it will, upon reaching bridge plate v54, because of the position of the center of gravity thereof, tumble over the edge of plate 54 and slide down chute `56, as illustrated in broken lines by pin 200 in Figure 2. The butt endof such falling pin will strike pin orienting or reversing plates 58 With the effect of being guided into a head forward position, as illustrated by pin, 300 in Figure 2. This properly oriented pin then fallsthrough opening 60. of chute 56 onto one of the ascending flights 42. Incase one of the ascending flights already carries a pin, then the just oriented pin is simply pushed aside by the ascendingpin and cannot fall onto a flight until anrempty flight passes opening 60. After successfully passing the lower portion V50 of the U-shaped channel, pins are guided through the upper portion of the U-shaped channel. As each flight leaves `channel U, it assumes a generally horizontal position and supports'the pin which it has been pushing vconnected by a common feed channel.

4 Y housing 25, to the triangularizing or rack section R of the magazine. A plate 63, provided with a curved portion 65 at its bottom end, extends upwardly along channel 62 and transversely across the top of the machine, as shown in Figure 2. Curved portion 65 tends to push any pin on a flight into proper position therein. Plate 63 maintains pins in proper position on flights 42 during the lifting movement and the rolling movement thereof along the top of rack R.

The preferred form of rack section R consists chielly of two properly spaced, vertically mounted plates 64 (Figures 1 and 2), which are provided with ten pin locating or supporting stations 1 to 10 which form the same pattern and correspond exactly with the ten pin locating spots on the bowling alley bed. While ten stations are shown, obviously more or less could be provided to meet change of rules in the game. Infacilitating the delivery of pins to the pin locating stations, several stations are Plates 64. are provided with four feed channels, namely, 66, 68, 70 and 72, each of which has an opening 74, 76, 78 and S0 respectively, leading to the top edges 82 of plates 64. The design of the rackV section R is such that feed chan; nel l66 connects and serves pin stations 1, 3, 6 and 10; Yfeed channel 68 serves pin stations 2, v5, Vand 9; channel 70 serves pin stations 4 and S, and channel 72 serves pin station 7. Each of the ten-stations is provided with a pin arresting mechanism which consists of a pair of pin supporting lugs 84, 85 employed for the purpose of supporting the head and bottom portion of the pin in substantially horizontal position. Each pair of lugs 84, 85 consists of a rigidly mounted rear lug 35 and a hinge mounted front lug 84. Each lug, with ltheexception of the lugsV for stations 1, 2, 4 and 7, is attached to a narrow arm 86 for pivotal movement about a horizontal pivot. Each pair of arms 86 is mounted on a Yshaft 88 pivotally supported by plates 64. Since stations 1, 2, 4 and 7 are located at the bottom of feeding channels 66, .68,70 and 72 respectively, 4no rear pin supporting lug lsnecessary, but the bottom of each feeding channel in the rear plate is so formed as to provide a proper support Vfor the Vbottom portions of the pins coming to rest in said stations. The front lugs 84, which support the neck portions of pins in stations 1, 2,v 4 and 7, arehinge mounted on -horizontal pivots in brackets 90 securedeto the front. `side of the front plate 64., All front supporting lugs 84, `in addition to being hinge mounted, are also equrppedwith a suitable tension spring 92, which normally biases them to vertical position, but yields to permit forward tilting of lugs 84 when a'set ,of horizontal pins 1s extracted from rack R. `On each shaft 88'is mounted Ya lever 94 (Figures l and 9) which by means of a link through the channel. These pins are then carried up- 'Y Wardly through a vertical channel 62, formed by the 'side of rack housing 108, and the back and side of lmagazine `96 isrconnected tov a trip or' control arm 98, each of which is pivoted on a shaft 102 supported by plates 64. Nearthe top portion of each of the feed channel openings 74, 76 and 78, is located a bell crank-shaped, spring- Vmounted check arm 104, `each of whichris pivoted on a Yhorizontal shaft 1.06 supported by plates 64. Arms'104 are so designed that the lower portion 107 extends into pm locating stations 8, 9 and 10, respectively, when these stationsare empty. As soon as aN pin occupies'one of these stations and presses downwardly against portion 107, the upper free end of the respective arm 104 is moved into a position such that it closes thel upper opening of the respective feed channel and thereby prevents any successive passing pin from entering the same. vEach arm is provided with a tension spring 105 (Figure 9), employed 'for' the purpose 'of preventing it from projecting into the feed channels when no pin is in its station. f

The triangularizing or pin rack section R operates as follows:v As pins carried by flights 42 of pin conveyor CO reach the top of channel 62 andadjacent to the top edge of the pin rack housing 108, pin 'conveyor CO 'S turns and moves `in a hrizntal-directon,`threby Vcausiing vflights 42 to assume asubstantially vertical position. All pinsY which had been lifted.A by...ights"42 are now pushed or rolled along the top edgesV of spaced plates 64 (Figure 1). As the conveyor .chains l32 movehorizo'ntal-` ly, the cradles 42 are held vertically by meanscftheir respective Iguideshoes 44 contacting suitable guide rails v110 secured to the top plate. of yhousingf25 (Figure 1)-. When rack Ris empty, the first pin rolledalongtop .edges 82 of plates 64 will, upon reaching opening 74, dueto its ownweight, drop therethrough into-feed -channel 66 .and come to rest at station 1, where it is;held in theyproper horizontal position by the pin supporting lugs y84, 85 of this particular station, described heretofore." Onits way to station 1,'the .fall'mg pin, of course, passes sta,- tions 3, 6 and 10, thereby .temporarilydepressing control arms 98 for thestations 6and ,10; andgalso check arm 104 at station :10, which momentarily effects a closing of opening 74 of..feed channel ,166.; Upon 'reaching sta'- tion 1, however, .this pin .depresses control armf98;ofs`ta, tion 3, which remains depressed..soflongasthisi pin rC.- mains in station 1. The depressing of this controlarm 98 through link 96 and lever 9 4 lcauses'lever 86 to swing Ysupportingrlugs 84,' A85 ofstation 3 I,intoroperative pin supporting position in feed' channel k66, sorthat the next pin dropping vthrough opening, 74 into' .feed channel 66 comes to rest and is positioned vproperly thereonat sta, tion 3;k The -second pin .arrested-atstation 3 injtur1`1 keeps thecontrol arm 98 ofstation 6 ina depressed position: which Vcauses pin supportinglg's 84, 85uof staf tion: 6 to -swinginto Aandremainrin;y .operativepinfsupporting position -in-I feed channel Y66.'-.;:*I`he` thirdv pin dropping into Vfeed channel 66,-tthe'refore, comes to rest on these lugs: atstation.6, which'initurn: keeps thecon- :trol arm 98 for station 10 in-zadepressed position, therebybeffecting a raising-and lockingoff-the pinzsuppo'rting lugs 84, 85 at station v10,into.the.1feed, channel l.66, so that the fourth pin dropping intoffeedchannel 66 comes -to rest on said lugs off-.station- 10;` `The fourth pin de posited in station 10, however, by engagement with portion 165, also causes' the :upper -portion of checkfarm 104 to move into the center lportioxiofthe opening-74 of feed. channel 66, thereby closing yit andguidingvany following pin, arrivingat saidA opening, over;A the-.same and preventing any: further pin'fro'mI entering feedchannel"66 (Figure9). .Since theopening 74 k-ofrchanne'l '66'is thus closed, the following; pins are moved byilights 42 along spaced edges'82 fartheruntil theyereach opening 76 of feed channe1.68;where they idroplintoa'stations 2, and 9 respectivelyin thesarne manner asthe first four pins droppedinto stations 1,3,I 6-.and.10. 'The dropping of a pin in station 9. causes checkarml04 guard- Y ing Vopening 7.6 of channel 68 to ."swingfinto channel `clos-v y ying position :inA opening v76,'thus` preventing more .-.pins

from entering feed channel 68..V .'Any.following-.pir'isiherc.-v

-fore arek guided over. theopeningsl74 andg76,to:; the edge of-thefopening 78'fof1 ,the feed channelgorwhich accommodates stations-4 -a'nd `v8.5i, Aftentwojpinsildrp lthrough ope'r'iingl78v into feed-channel .70 Vin ainanner similar tothat described heretofore, .stations 4'zande8fare filled andopening 7 8 is closedfby means. ofthe-,z check varm'104lield in the center portion of-.s'aidopeningzby'the pin deposited in station y8. The remaining pinrforwarded `by the pin conveyor is guiding: over the 'closedf'opem ings 74, 76 and-7810 the opening'80f'offeed channel 7 2,

same manner vand conform with the Lsame pattern,` in which vthe pins Iare placed on the alley bed, i.e. station 1 corresponds with pin 1 on the alley, stations `2., and 3 correspond with pins 2 and 3,.et c. After passing `over the top of the pin rack section R, pin conveyor C makes o a turn and moves vertically in a downward direction as indicated byA thearrow in Figure 1. To save space yand ready ilights 42 to a pin receiving position when arriving at the bottom of housing 25, the ights, upon leaving the top portion -of said housing, are moved or lswung about their pivots from a vertical hanging position to a position-where, in conjunction with bars 32`on chains 30, they form an almost flatconveyor baud. The position of the flights or cradles 42 is changed by means of two studs 112 secured to the rear wall of housing 25 and protruding into the path of the cradles at the upper left turning corner of the conveyor `chains 30. After flights 42 have been turned, guide shoes 44 of each flight engages with a |vertical guide bar 114'attached to the inner wall of housing 25. i l The pin setter table T i. (Figure 2) employedv for Vthe purpose of transferring the pins from the triangularizing pin rack R to the alley, consists lof a suitable, housing 120 in which are rigidly secured 1ten' cylinders 122 larranged in the same manner 4.and-'triangular pattern .as the Vstag tions 1 to 10 in the pin rack R which correspond with the spots on the .alley on, whichthe bowling pins Uare placed.' .Since all cylindersy132 are identical in constructionfand operation, it is considered `thatadescription-of one -will suiiice for all. Each-,cylinder v132carriesfa plurality'of `spring mountedgripper'arms. 124 which at one end suitably engage a cone shaped gripper vactuatingmember 126 whichjisfjattached toA one 'end'.of a

` `rod 128suitably supported in asleeve .or vhub .130 mount'- ed on` a cylinderl cover plate i132 which may form. an integral parts'rof cylinder 122. `The other endof'rod 128 vis fastened to a plate 134 which at severall suitab1epoints engages with a number ofthreaded' spindles 13,6,t h e ends .of'zwhichz are supported inbebearingsofsuitable ribsor plates which may be an integral part of Ytable .housing 120, YEach spindle 136 hassecured to one end `a sprocket 138, eachof which by means of a chain 140, is connected'to a sprocket 142, all of .which are mounted on a shaft. i'

144 protruding from a suitable reversible gearreduction motor 148 suitably securedwithin the ltablehousing ,120.

It may be readilynnderstood that they turning 'of spindles v13.6 through jmotoro148 causes plate 134 Ntomovev towar-ds or away from 'thelcylinder' cover plates y173 2,.st'l1ich kin turn moves each cone shaped member126 onli-.od l128 in each cylinder v'towardsV or raway fromtheends of its respective-gripper arms .124thus 4electing a gripping orreleasing action vof said gripper arms' 124 ifi each cylinder 122.

A,/Table Tjis providedl withapairiof studs i -2), swingably'supportedv in a, pair of arms 152 pivotally mounted on, anhorizontal transverseshaft 154 supported .at'each endin-- suitable 'bearingsofu twor frame members 156, eachjof which is mountedon the upperiportion of .the inner wall of thebowlingalleyzkikbacks. Arms '152 also carry -a-transverse shaftm158 Vto which,at .each end adjacent the outside 'of each'arm,A is o ,mounted a gear. 160,

` ,Gears 160.jengage withr'stationarygrgearsegments 162;,-

`peach of which -is rigidly secured to the inner side .of its 6.5 the 'bottom of lwhich forms thefstation7. lAfteiithe-la'st pin .isdeliveredto'statiri 7, therloadinglof the triangu larizing pin rack is completed;:trian'gularizedipinsf'held'` therein are ready to be transfer-red'gbyra :suitable Ipin 'spot 'Y ter to the alley. Since thezpin depositedins`tation7 isthe respective frame member 156.1f`Shaft 156 is rotated either clock or counter clockwise by one, yor preferably .two,jreyersible gearreductionmotors 164, mounted on a sleeve bracket v16.6"loo`sely`supported ,bytransvers'c shaft 1154.- It maybe readily seen that a clockwise rota- Y .tion ofyshaft 158 @uses lsears .6010.- 1.11m. dwnward ly. 011 the astatignary gear-Segment 162, illus. ffcg a' downwardgmovementof arms 1'52 and'ponSequentlyof .pinsetter table T.v towards the alley bed, while :a counter Stations 1 .to 10 1n the pin rack Rare arranged inV the 575 .clockwise rotation yof shaft 158/ effects Aair-aisingA of .table ,T awayfromthe alleybed. i a C I Y f .Sinthg.triaasalaizesrgaia rimedi-s.. @gaat arranged in a horizontal position, but have to be placed on the alley in a vertical oriupright position, table T, in electing the necessary transfer, is turned`90 by means of a pair of guide rollers 178, one of each of which is pivotally mounted on the exterior walls of table housing 120. Each roller 170 runsY in a cam track 172 of a vertical cam plate174 mounted on the inner side of the frame members 156. After a set of ten pins has been transferred by table T from rack section R to the alley bed, table T rises from its lowermost position I indicated in dotted lines (Figure 2) to a dwell position II above the alley and remains in this dwell position until the player has thrown a ball.

After a ball is thrown by the player, it rolls from an inclined 'platform 180 in the pit P onto a balllift L (Figures 1, 2, 4 and 7) consisting of a rack 182 pivotal.- ly attached to a pair of lugs 184 mounted on a suitable frame Within magazine M. lThe rack 182, which in the illustrated embodiment is made of tubular members, is so constructed as to provide an inclined transverse runway which leads into a delivery cradle consisting of tubular member 186 secured substantially at right angles to tubular rack 182, therefore, any ball rolling onto any portion of tubular rack 182 will thus gravitate to the junction of member 186 and rack 1872. 'Adjacent one end of memb'er 186 is attached one end of a tension spring 188.

' The other end of spring 188 is secured to a stud 19t) (Figure 7) held by a suitable frame member of magazine M. Ball lift L is held at the bottomV of pit P by the lower edge of a vertical backstop or' pit cushion 192 secured to a pair of supporting brackets194 (Figure 7). At the upper corner of each bracket 194 vis pivoted a roller 196 runningin a vertical cam track or kguide chan'- nel 198 suitably secured to frame plates within themagazine housing 25. The :lower corner of each bracket 194 is attached to a stud 202 -which is an integral part or au endless chain 204, and which also carries a roller engaging in a vertical cam track 286;' Both chains 204' are led over a pair of idler sprockets 208 andare driven or reciprocated by a pair of sprockets 210 mountedron a horizontal d-rive shaft 212 carrying a sprocket 214 (Figure l) which is oscillated through a chain 216 running on a sprocket 218V mounted on a shaft projecting from a reversible reduction gear motor 228 suitably mounted on the outside wall of ball elevator housing 222.' The machine isrtimed in such a manner that, as soon `as a ball comes to rest in the rack 182, motor 220 actuates the drivinglsprocket's v210 tomove the endless chains 284 in counter-clockwise direction, thereby effecting a raising of the cushion 192 in the manner described above. The raising-'of cushion 192 in turn effects a release of ball lift L, which,` due to the action of tension spring 188,

swings it to the position indicatedpin dotted lines in Fig-1 .ure 7. Thus, since cushion 192 has continued its upward travel, the rocking movement of ball lift Lvcauses a ball to roll onto member Y186 and into or onto the -ball elevator E, which elevates the ball Vin the elevator housa clockwise direction, cushion 192 moves down again,

permitting the ball to roll by gravity from exit ,chamberl 223 onto a suitable transverse ball return runway 226 (Figures z l, 4 and 7) which delivers a ball ontoa conventional return runway.

i The ball elevator E (Figures l,

4 and 7) consists f'a "pairof endlessV chains 228, each ofvvhich Carriesfa plufming'the bllduringelevatio inthe slot formed by two opposing lugs '229. As shown, the ball engagingportion of each lugis curved in order to conform to the curvature of a ball, and prevents damage thereto.

The elevator chains 228 are driven by means of a sprocket 230 on shaft 232 of motor 234. Sprocket 230 through chain 235 (Figure 7) drives a suitable sprocket mountedv in shaft 238 supported in suitable bearing brackets attached to the outer Wall of housing 222. Also secured to shaft 238 is a sprocket 240 (Figure l) which drives one of the endless elevator chains 228. The other elevator chain is driven by shaft 238 by means of a sprocket 242 mounted on a shaft 244 through a horizontal shaft 246 and suitable bevel gearing (not shown). Both elevator shafts '228 run over a parir of idler sprockets'248 pivoted to shafts 250 supported in suitable bearing brackets attached Ito the outer wall of housing 222.

In case some pins remain standing after the rst ball is thrown by the player, the table T descends, picks up said standing pins and returns to its dwell position 1I above the lalley (Figure 2) after 'which a suitable alley sweep S, which functions also as a guard against carelessly or inadvertently rolled balls, pushes the fallen pins into pit P. In order to assure that all pins falling or pushed into pit P reach the lowerv chamber F of pin magazine M, pit'P is provided with a suitable device for moving pins rearwardly 1in the pit. In the form illustrated, this is a pit sweep PS which pushes all pins from the pit onto the moving floor formed by ghts 42 and bars 32 of the pin conveyor CO which runs in a substantially horizontalv plane across the bottom of chamber F. Flights 42, while passing throughV the bottom portion of chamber F, move progressively into substantially horizontal portions :and are held in'that arrangement by means of their guide shoes 44, which engage a guide rail 252 attached to the bottom portion of housing 25. A pin 253, projecting from the rear wallfof housing 25 into the path ofrflights 42 near the turning point of the conveyor chains 30 (Figure 1), assures aproper guidance of shoes 44 onto guide rails 252. Y

Pit sweep PS (Figure 2) consists of a transverse sweep lboard 254 attached to a horizontal gear rack 256 which engages with and is reciprocated by a gear 258 mounted on shaft '259 protruding from a reversible gear reduction motor 26!)` conveniently mounted beneath the alley bed. iin order to provide greater stability -to'board 254, it may be attached to and reciprocated by two or more gear Vracks (not shown) which would necessitate two or more gears (not shown) mounted on common shaft 259 leading to said reversible gear reduction motor.

The alley sweepS employed (Figure 2) consists of a sweep board *262 extending across the alley and at its 'ends secured to arms 264. Arm-s 264v are pivotally attached to spaced endless chains 266 actuated by spaced oscillating sprockets 268 mounted on shafts 269 of reversible gear reduction motors 270. Each motor is suitably Ymounted to the respective frame `member 156. Each chain 266 runs in a suitable channel in frame member 156. Each .arm 264 is provided with asuit-able doubleiacting shock yabsorber lrod 272 linking arm 264 vwith chain 266. This mechanism provides means which softenany'sharp impact which sweep board 262 may receive when fallen .pins are swept finto theV pit. This mechanism also absorbs the shockcaused by carelessly or inadvertently thrown balls striking against the front Iface-of sweep board 262. It istobe understood, of

course, that the two motors 27), 'activating the sweep S,

are fully synchronizedgand act as one unit. '1 VWhile the triangularizing pin rack R, illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 9 and described heretofore may be considered the preferred form of pin rack construction, a

modied form of pin rack R is disclosed in Figures 3, 5,

"6 and 8. In this modiied form, pin rack R consists of aframe or shell 280 in which are supported four shelves 282, 284,286 and 238,- ea'ch of which carries one-or more sets of laterally spaced upright mountedpin guide plates 290. The side edges of plates 290 are spaced in such a manner as to form pockets or stations arranged in a manner similar to the ten stations in plates 64 of thel preferred form illustrated in Figure 1 and correspond with the pattern in which the pins are set on the alley. As shown in Figure 8, the several sets of'station forming plates are also spaced longitudinally in order to engage bowling pins at two points in order to locate and hold them properly in substantially horizontal positions for removal from rack R'.

The arrangement of plates 290 is such that on shelf 288 is located station No. 1 for No. l` pin, on shelf 286 are located stat-ions Nos. 2 and 3 for Nos. 2 and 3 pins, on shelf 284 are located stations Nos. 4, 5 and 6 for the Nos. 4, 5 and 6 pins, and on shelf 282 are located stations Nos. 7, 8, 9 and 10 for pins Nos. 7, 8, 9 and 10. With `the exception of station No. 1, each station is provided with 'a gap closing device. Instations Nos. 7, 8, 9 and 10, each device consists of a control arm 292` mounted on a shaft 294 supported in suitable bearings in front and Vrear guide plates 290. To each shaft 294 is also secured a pair of control lugs l296, each of which engages with one of the two gap closing arms 298, which are pivoted on a vshaft 302, also held by -guide plates 290. Due to the difference in construction, i.e. thedit'ference in depthof Athe pockets form-ing stations Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, from that fof pockets forming stations Nos. 7,8, 9 and 10, each of the former Apockets is provided with a'pair of control arms 304 each of which is mounted on a` shaft 306 sup- .Yported in suitable bushings or bearings in Vguide plates 290 (Figure 8). To each shaft is secured a pair of control lugs 308, each ofwhich engages with a gap closing v310, pivotally mounted on fshaft 312 supported on bearings in front and rear plates 290. Control arms 304 Vand gap closing arms 310 are of similar shape and design v.as arms 292 and 298 respectively, but shorter in length. These `arms are shown in greater detail in Figures 5 and 6. While Fig. 5 illustrates agdeeper pocket than those vremployed in stations Nos. 7,8, 9 and 10, Figure 6 discloses a shallow pocket as used in stations Nos. 2, 3, 4,y 5 and 6.

The modified stations shown in Figures 5 and 6, differ from the pockets illustrated in'Figures 3 and 8 only in the contour or shape of the side edges of the vertical guide plates 290 forming said pockets. In Figures-5 and 6, the sides are shown straight, while in Figures 3 Vand 8,

`the sides are shown curved". Both types of stations work .equally Well in receiving andsupporting pins. V VThepins are elevatedby ights 42 to the top edges 314 of vertical guide plates 290 (Figure. 3) in thesame Amanner as in the preferred form illustrated in Figurek l, and described heretofore. The rst'pin 'delivered to top edges 314 is rolled horizontally over or along the same bythe vertically positioned light until the pin encounters the rst pocket forming' No. 10 station. The pin drops into this pocket and comes lto rest on the'shelf282 in a head forwardhorizontal position. By dropping into and While occupying said station, this pin depresses control arm 292 which heretofore protruded into station No. 10.`

Control arm 292 in turn actuates control lugs 296 which in'rturn eiect an upward movement of gap closing arms 298, bringing the latter substantially in line'with the top edges 314 of plates 290, thereby forming aA bridge closing the pocket and preventing any further pin from dropping into station No. I10. The second pin arriving at the top edges Y314 of plates 290 is rolled horizontally theret along overvth'e bridging gap-:closing arms 298 `of stationv No. -10 land into'th'e `'open' pocket of' station No. 9, cansingV a depression of the respective control arm"292 which effects the closing of this pocket by itsfrespective gap closing arm 298 in the same manner as the gap closing mechanism for station No. 10 described above. The and fourth pins will be delivered into the pockets 'of stations Nos. 8r and 7 respectively, each of which is t 10. closed inthe same manner afterthe Varnivalof apin therein..V The fth pin, therefore, is rolled by-itsilight42 over the top edges 314 and the closed pockets of stations Nos.' 10, 9, 8 andr7 until it reaches the edges of the extreme left guide plates 290 on shelf 282 (Figure 3) where it falls `into a 4chuteV formed by the side edges 320 of said guide plates and the inner -Wall of shell 280. The curved top edges" 322 of the extreme .left side guide plates 290 on shelf 284 guide the fall of the pin and lbring the same in contact withapair of horizontally mounted longitudinally spaced rotating spirals 324 (Figures 3 and 8) which engage said pin at spaced peripheral on its top portionand roll the same over the top edges of guide plates 290 on shelf 284 until it reaches and drops into the pocket of station No. 4. rThe arrival of a pin in the latter, causes control arms 304 to be depressed. This in turn, through controlV lugs 308, eiectsva movement of gap closing Yarms 310 to pocket closing position. 'Ihe sixth pin Vdelivered by ght 42 to the top edges 314 will follow the ysaine path as the fifth pin,-except that by means.l of spirals 324,Y it ismoved over the now closed pocket of station N054 and drops intogthe pocket of station No. 5, (Figure'S). The seventh'pin is moved over the samepathas the two previous pinsand is dropped into the pocket of station No.v 6. The eighth pinis moved in the same manner over the ltop edges of'plates 290 on shelves282Y and 2841until it reaches 'the entremeri'ght side edges 326 of plates 290 on shelf 284, Where it drops 'A vto a'v chute Aformed by side edges 326 and the curved' top :edges 328 `ofplat'es 290 on shelf 286. vThe curved vtop edges'328 gui-de the topportionof this pin into engage'- 4ment with' a pair of horizontally mountedy longitudinally spaced rotating spirals 330 which'advance it until itdrops "into the pocketof'stationNo. 3.A After receiving a pin,

the pocket of station No. 3 is closed in the same manner and by 'mechanisms identical with those used in closing jthe-pockets 'of stations` Nos. 4, 5v and 6. After being delivered to the top edges 3,14, the ninth pin follows the same paths as the previous pin and 'is then-dropped the pocketofstation;No. 2. The tenth and last pin is moved in the same paths and by thesame mechanism as the two 'previous `pins until itreaches a chute formed by the eX- treme Vleftsi'de edges 332 of plates 290 on shelf 286 and curved top edges 334v of Aguide vplates 291 vertically 4mounted on shelf 288,. Curved top edgesf'334 guide the ftop portion of said pin into engagement with a pair of horizontally i mounted longitudinally j spaced rotating spirals 336 which advance'this pin until it drops'into the pocket of station No. 1, thus completing the filling of the Ytriangularly` arranged stations Nos. 1 to 10 with j Spirals 3124, 330 and336 are duiven by means ofa suitable gear reduction motor 338 (Figure 3) conveniently mounted onthe''inner side of shell 280: The shaft of motor 338 "carries a'sprocket 340 which, through chain '342, drives vsprocket 344 mounted-on a `horizontal yshatlt 346 supported by suitable bearing brackets conveniently f attached to`liousing25of the machine. 'AlsoY secured to shaft '346 are sprockets Y348 and 350. The latter, through chain `352,7driv'es sprocket 354 mounted on shaft 356 which carries oneofthe 'two spirals 330. Sprocket 348,

through Vchain l3,578, drives sprocket 360 mounted on-sh-aft V362 whichcarries one of the v.two spirals 336. Shaft 362 also carries sprocket 364 which,-through chainy 366, drives sprocket 3,68 mounted on shaft 370 which carries `one of the spirals 324.` Theldlrivefor one of each pair of spirals "330, 336 and "324'just described, refers to the spirals located towards the front portion of pin racks. The driveV for each rearwardly located spiral is the saine" with'f'the 'exceptionl that'iit-fis drivenffrorn a shat (not shown) whichis in-linve'i'and parallel to shaft 346 and isdriven jby 'the latter through a suitable pulley (notshown) andY belt 372 from a pulley374fmounted on vshaft 346. 1 In arranging belt372 -to crosswise, a clockwiseand counter-clockwise rotation of the'front and rea-r spirals '1 1 An important feature of this invention is the pin changing mechanism which includes la Vstorage bin B (Figure -1). h1 the embodiment shown, bin B is designed to hold ,twenty pins-or two full sets. If desired, however, fewer pins can be stored therein.V The pin changing mechanism is so constructed and operated thatfbowling pins in play can be transferred from the alley and'rack R to storage bin B and exchanged for stored pins in bin B. The pin changing and storage mechanism is employed for chang- .ing and/ or replacing one or more sets of pins in use or in play for one or more sets of pins in storage in bin vSB. Y For example, if there `are two sets of pins in storage in league-or tournament play. 'The term-open play as applied lto bowling pins, includes pins which although vworn or in use for some time and not acceptable for lleague play, can stillbeused and are not objected to by vmany bowlers.V It will be seen, however, that although fopen play pins can be used' at certain times, it may be necessary or `desirable in order to satisfy customers, to change the pins. The mechanism descnibed hereinafter accomplishes this purpose in a rapid and eicient manner.

The storage bin designated generally SB, consists of a suitably shaped box or shell 380 mounted within housing 2S adjacent the pin reversing and orienting channelU. Within the box 380, are suitably arranged a number of spaced generally horizontally positioned shelves 382 hav- Aing a slight incline which support bowling pins delivered into box 380, and along which pins can roll by gravity .and pressure of succeeding pins to proper storage positions, such as shown in Figure 1. The top portion of lbox 380, adjacent channel U, is provided with a hinge mounted entrance or guard door 384, which normally maintained in bin entrance closing position by spring 385. Door 384 is moved to bin entrance opening `position by means of a solenoid 388 suitably mounted on the top of said box 388. The armature of solenoid 388 is pivotally -connected to one end of link 386. The other end of link 386' is connected to door 384. When door 384 is in bin opening position, bowling pins being pushed through channel U by flights 42 are delivered into bin SB. These pins gravitate downwardly between plates 389, 391, and 393 and roll .from shelf'to shelf through passageways formed by the ends of shelves 382 until all pins delivered into bin SB take positions as shown in'Figure Vl. While 'shelves 3812, when provided with a slight incline (Eigure 1) perform satisactorily, their inclination can be varied as desired in order to control movement of pins therealong.

In order to provide `lior the delivery of stored pins from bin B, the bottom portion of box 380 is provided with a hinge mounted exit or trap door 390. The latter, through link 392, is connected to the armature of` a solenoid 394 suitably attached to the lower side of box 380. Door 390 is providedV with suitable spring 391 employed for the purpose of keeping it closed when not actuated by its solenoid 394. Adjacent the entrance and exit of box 380 are mounted suitable pin counters 396 and 398 respectively, `the function of-which will be described hereinafter.

Counters 396 and 398 can be similar in design and construction to those disclosed and described in Rundell Patent No. 2,388,707, issued November 13, 1945.

In order to make clear the operation of the pin changing and storing mechanism, the automatic transfer of twenty pins or twosets of say, open play pins from the' pin rack R or R' and alley to storage pin B and the replacement thereof of twenty pins or'two sets' of, say

-League pins isdescribeclas follows: Reference is made to `Figures r1() to 17 inclusive, which disclose a step by step operation of theY pin storing and changing mechanism.

Vlt is assumed that pins designated A and B represent two complete sets of open play pins, and pins designated C and Drepresent two complete sets of league pins, and, before starting the machine, pins B are on the alley and pins A are in the pin rack, while pins C and D are stored .in storage bin SB. Y Table T rests in its dwell position (Figure l). Upon operating a suitable pin transfer switch, which will be described hereinafter, pins A on the alley are swept by alley sweep S into pit P, while table Tascends and removes pins A from pin rack R (Figure l1.) Table T then places pin A on the alley while trap door 3% of the sto-rage bin is openedv by its solenoid allowing pins D to roll out of said storage bin into lower chamber F onto the moving pin conveyor which elevates pins D upward to the now empty pin rack R (Figure 12). After the tenth pin of set D haspassed the pin counter 398, the latter eiTects a closing of trap door 398 of storage bin SB. Due to their weight and the slight. incline of vshelves 382 in the storage bin, pins C have followed the outgoing set D, but are prevented from leaving storage bin SB by the timely closing of trap door 394?. Table T in the meantimehas ascended to its dwell position andthe entire set of pins D is conveyed into pin rack R while the set of pins C remains in pin storage SB (FigurelS). The pit sweep PS then swingsinto action and sweeps pins B froml the pit P into lowerl chamber F onto theA moving pin conveyor 3). Meanwhile, due to the action of solenoid 388 the entrance door 384 on top of the storage bin opens, thus allowing pins B, carried upward by iiights 42 of pin conveyor 38, to be delivered into sto-rage binSB on top of set o-i'fpins C, which atithis timeV remain in the storage bin. After thepitsweep PS sweeps pins B into the lower chamber F onto Ythe pin conveyor, sweep S sweeps pins A from the alley into pit P, while the table T extracts the pins D fromV the' pin rack R and holds 'them in readiness for spotting above the alley (Figure 14). After the tenth pin of set of pins B has passed counter 386 at the entrance to storage bin SB, counter 386, through solenoid 388, effects a closing of entrance door 334, after which table T places the set of pins D on the alley and the trap door 390 at `the bottom of the storage bin again opens and allows pins C to drop onto the moving .pin conveyor 3) which elevates them and delivers them to pin rack R (Figure 15).v In

f the meantime, the now empty table T ascends and remains in its dwellfposi-tion above the alley. As soon as the tenth pin of set of I'pins C passes `counter 398 adjacent Vtrapdoor 396, the latter, through its solenoid 3194, is closed againand prevents any further pin leaving storage bin SB. The complete set of pins C, of course, is 'elevated to the pin rack R (Figure 16). Pins A, still resting in the pit, are then swept by pit sweep PS into lower chamber F onto the moving pit conveyor. VIn the meantime, entrance door 384 opens again and pins A, Yelevated by the pin conveyor, are delivered into storage bin SB on top of set B already located therein. lAfter the tenth pin of set of pins A passes counter 386 at entrance door 384, the latter is closed in the manner kdescribed above, and the change of two entire sets of pins is ycompleted (Figure 17). ',Pins A and B which heretofore were on the alleyV and in :rack R respectively,eare now in the sto-rage bin, and sets of pins C and D, which heretofore were in the storage bin, Vare now in rack R and on the alley, respectively.

ln order to properly control the action, as well as the timingiof the various mechanisms duringV a normal as Well as a pin changing cycle, the machine is provided with -a suitable electrical. control system, such as shown in Figure 18. Y f

The'normal cycle of the machine starts when a ball, rolled by a player, lands on plate 180 in pitl P, which causes Vatemptnaiy:,closingof'pit switch 402, This operation starts gear redctioncam -notor'404 (Figure 18). A shaft 406, protrudingv from motor 404, carriesga number of cams,r all Yofwhich aree'mployed for the purpose of effecting thestarting andstopping of the various op erating mechanisms, aswell as 'the propersequence and timed relation of the saine.

As mentioned heretofore, each mechanism is driven or actuated byl its individual motor. As shown in the drawings, seven individual 'conventional gear reduction motors are employed. Five motors are of the reversible type; the other two are of the onedirection rotating type. In order to properly control the vdirection of rotation as well as the time of rotationV of each'` motor, the current supply is directed as well as timed by' means ofa cam designed to open or close properlyv arranged contacts. Therefore, alley sweep motor270 is controlled by cam 408, pit sweep motor 260 is controlled'by cam-410, table-motor 164is controlled by cam'412,*pinjf'gripperfmotorv 148 isA controlled by 414,"ball lift'nd cushion motor is `coaltrolled by cam 416, pin conveyor motor 40-.is r.cont-rolled by cam 418 and ballelevato'r. motor k234 is controlled by cam 420. Cams 40.8, "4 10, 412,' A14-,1416; 418 and '42 arev mounted on shaft 4406 of motort404. .g Y Also attached to shaft i406. is a motor con-trol Vcam 422 which is used to keep cam .control-motor 404jrunning after'it is startedbythe closingpofpitfswitch 402.- Cam 422 on shaft 406 starts turning -in thedirectioncfr the arrow as soonas rthe,` temporary'closing ,of4 pit switch 402 starts motor `404, V,causing -oam follower'424 ,togride oft the high spot 426 of cam?42,2,.whicheifect'sn al'elosing armste maining standing on the alley.

l 14 (Figure 2) and causes grippers 124 to grip any pins re- Cam,414 is designed inA such `a Ymanner as to allow sufficient time for pin grippers 124 to grip the standing pins securely. Continued rotation ofV cam 414 then causes reversing switch 456 to be .thrown from its previously described circuit closing position to its neutral position, which stops pin gripper motor 148. l l

Table control cam 412 is so designed and timed that, as soon as pin gripper motor l148 stops, a high portion 458 of this cam, through follower 446, throws switch 450 from a neutral to a circuit closing position. Since at this time switch 450 is moved by high portion 458 of cam 412 to the right, as viewed rin. Figure 18, the flow of current to table motor 164 is reversed, thus causing motor 164 to effect an upward movement of table T,

carrying the pins held by the Vpin gripper mechanism described heretofore. ITable control cam 412- is so designed that as soon as table T reachesits dwell position Il above the alley, camfollower 446 drops off the high spot 458, causing switch 450-to snap into neutral position and thereby stops motor 164. I "7 As soon as table T reaches its dwell position II, a high spotY 460 on alley sweep cam 408, through cam follower- 1462, throws ,a switch464 from a neutral. posiation toa right side contact, as-viewed in Figure 18. This 'causes reversible gear'reduction motor' 270 to start,

y'thereby effecting movement of alley sweep S towards :pit P, :causing [all pinsr iwhich were knocked down by of contacts 428, and ashunting ofpit switch 402.1.*One t side of switch402, as well; asone side vrof contacts )'428'is t-,on'nected to voneiofthe power ,linesL by means .of aline v43:0. VThe latterA isjprovided with a normally closed switch '432, the action of which bedescribed hereinafter.

- #As cam shaft 406 begins'w rotate a highv'spotjiissgion balltand Voushionlift engaged by cam followerV l434 on switch arm-435, throws reversing switch 436' to the right, as viewedin Fig'gurell, 'and,throughv proper contacts, causes reversible vgear reduction -motor VY2.20 to turn in, a counter-clockwise direction, vtliferire-"thy elfecting v a raising of the backstop or cushion k192,"whichjallows spring powered ball lift'L to rise and deliver the ball to ball elevatorl E.` At time, the cam 'follower 434 of.switch436 has dropped from the highportion 433 of cam 416 to a neutral -surface`438of the same, `'causing switch 436.,.to res'ume: its neutral positionf'which shuts oi the power'to motor-12,20v and causesv Vit, to stop,th'ereby allowingrcushionor backstop 192 to remain in its. raised position; In the meantime, a high portion440 on cam 420 has engaged .camffollower 442 of switch 444 and closed it. The 'closing of switch 444 starts motor 234 .the balland which have I-fallen vonto `the-alley or into the gutter,v to: be Lsweptinto vpit P. As soon as, alley sweep S reachesthe end-,of the alley, -cam follower 462 y drops frornhighlspot460pof cam 408 vto. low spot 466 i 35 thereon-causing switch 464 top move from its right side I contacts to its left side contacts. Thisf movement causes a reversing of motor 270 and hence the .return movementfofsweep; S. Assoon asfthe latter reaches itsinoperative p osition-,abovethe alley, "cam follower 462 rides from lowspot 466 onto neutral surface 468, which causes switch 464'to break its contacts and moveto its -normalfneutral position, thereby stopping motor 270.

f As soon as Vthe fallen pins have been'swept into pit P by valley sweeps, a high'spot 470 on pit sweep control cam 410, through cam follower 472,moves a switch 474 toi. its Yright side contacts (see Figure 1.8), causing reversible'gearreduction ymotor 260 to rotate in the proper v direction to efect a forward motion of pit sweep'PSv.

which drives vertical ball lelevator E, thereby elevating' theball through elevatorshaft` 222Mo exit 223 for delivery onto return yrunway ,226.; Motor ',284 and hence elevator E, stop again las soon as cam follower 442 drops volf high spot y440 of cam `420 effecting Ltheop'ening`Y of switch Shortly after la,Y bowlingr'ballis 'thrown'vfandf lands finv ypit P, table control'- cam *412, through a* cam .follower 446 dropping into'a low spot Y448 on cam 412,

vcauses a reversing vswitch 450 Vto vmove to the left, a's viewed in FigurelS, front a Ineutral to` a circuit closed positiom'thereby Vstarting reversible gear reductionlmotor 164 and effecting fa downward movement -oiftheltable T frompits Vdwfell positionflly above thev alley to its` pin `gripping position'l Vadja'cent'the alley (Figure 2).` As soon as table T arrives at its pin gripping position Ijtable control cam 412 throws' reversing switch;V 450`fback topf its neutral position, thusjetfecting'fa s toppagefof motori`V 164, and'table T. Asjsonlas table T comes to restat its pin gripping position, a high spot 45-2 on'pin gripper control cam 414 throughlcam'follower ,454, throws a `'reversing switch 456 from a, neutralA to circuitclosing ,position This starts reversible 4gear-reduction motor 148 which'y actuatesthe' pingrippermechanismdn table T Inl this manner, all pins previously swept into pit Py are moved into the lower pin receiving, chamber F onto the pin,` conveyor CO which is set in motion by high spot v'476 on pinpconveyor control cam 418which through cam follower 478closes a switch 480 andstarts the pin conveyor motor 4l). The back-stop or cushion 192 and the ball lift L, asvpreviously described, are still in their uppermost'positions. In order to prevent vthe pins pushed onto the Vpin Aconveyor CO fromrturnbling off thev same Jand out of, chamber F when conveyor CO starts moving,

pit sweep ,PS, after reaching its kforwardrnost position at the rear ofthe pit, stops and dwells adjacent to the conveyor for a short period of time, after which pit' ',sweepPSfreturnslto itsoriginal position. The.y stoppage 'of pit sweepm0tor 260'j. is cansed when camfollower 472Y thereof, which vbrezrilgsthe right side contact of switch v474 and returns thelatter to lits neutral position. After remaining for a short periodof time on the neutral por'- i tionofcam 410,@ camffollower. 472 drops into low spot 482':ther eon caursingswitch Y474.toV be moved intoV en- `s t /gagement with its rleft side contacts, thus reversing the Lilow of current to motor 260 and effecting` a'return motion of pitsweepjBS. A Afterv the latter reac'zh'es` its inoperative position adjacent ythe end of the alleyA bed, .as shown inFigureQ, cam follower 472.A rides from low 'spot- 482.*ont'o Athe neutral .-surface.of,cam 4,10,Y causing 15 switch 474 to return to its neutral position and stop motor 260.

As soon as pit sweep PS starts its return movement, cam follower 434 of switch 436 drops into low portion 437 of ball and curtain lift control cam 416, the action of which moves switch 436 into engagement with its left side contacts (see Figure 18), causing motor 220` to start and effect the downward movement of back-stop 192 and ball lift Upon reaching their lowermost positions, cam follower 434 rides onto the neutral surface of cam 4116, again causing switch 436 to move back to its neutral position. This action stops motor 220. Pin conveyor CO continues running until cam follower 478 of switch 480 drops from high spot 476 of cam 418 to the neutral surface of the same, thereby opening switch 480 and stopping the conveyor motor 4t). In the meantime, and as soon as alley sweep S has returned to its inoperative position above the alley, cam follower 446 drops into low spot 484 of table control cam 412, causing switch 45t) to engage with-its left side contacts, as viewed in Figure 18. This operation causes table T, carrying the previously picked up pins, Yto descend and replace them on the alley. When table T reaches its lowermost position I, cam follower 446 rides from low spot 484 onto a neutral portionof cam 412, thereby moving switch 450 back to its neutral position which effects a stoppage of motor 164.v Cam follower .446 rides, on a neutral portion of cam 412 for a short period of time, resulting in a dwelling of table T at position I. During this Ytime pin gripper motor 148 is set in motion to operate grippers 124 and release pins held thereby for respotting on the alley. Motor 148 is set in motion when cam follower 454 moves onto low portion 486 ofcam 414, causing switch 456 to engage with its left side contacts, as viewed is Figure 18. After pin grippers 124 are opened fully, 'cam follower 454 rides onto a neutral portion of cam 414 again causing switch 456 to return to its neutral position, and thereby stop pin gripper motor 148. As soon as the respotted pins are released, cam follower 446 rides otf the neutral portion of cam 412 Yontola high spot 488 of the same, causing switch 450 to engage .with its right side contacts, as shown in Figure 18, starting motor 164 and effecting Van upward movement of table T to its dwell position II above the alley. The upward movement of table T stops as cam follower drops from therln'gh spot 488 of cam 412 to a neutral surface thereon.

After the pins are respotted on the alley and table T has resumed its original dwell position Il, a high part 427 on cam shaft motor control cam 422 engages with cam follower 424 on switch arm 429 and effects an opening of contacts 428, thereby causing gear reduction motor 404 and cam shaft 486 to stop.V portions 426 and 427 on cam 422 are exactly 180 apart, thus stopping the cam control motor 484 and cam shaft 406 every one-half revolution. Therefore one complete revolution of cam shaft 406 represents the rst and second cycle of the machine which corresponds with the first and second ball thrown by the player. p

After the rst cycle, described above, is completed 'and high spot 427 on cam 422 has opened contacts 428, the machine is ready for the second cycle. Y the st cycle, every mechanism is in its normal position, the table dwells in position4 Il above the alley and all pins which remained standing after the first ball was thrown, are standing on the alley.

yThe second cycleV starts as soon as the second ball, thrown by the player, lands Yin the pit and causes a closing of pit switch 482.V All control cams, with the exception of table control cam 412 and pin gripper control cam 414, are symmetrical, i.e. the high'and low spots thereon for the second cycle are Vin the same lse quence and time relation as during the rst cycle. The second half of the table .control cam .412 is so designed At f the end Yof as to effect an `upward movementof table T after the second or last ball of a frame is thrown and not a downward movement to pick up Pins as in the, rst cycle. During its movement upward in the Second cycle, the table turns and partly enters the pin magazine M, as shown in Figure 2, while the open'pin grippers carried by said table, slide over the projecting neck portions of a set of pins supported horizontally in triangularizing pin rack R. During a short dwcll period of table T, pin gripper control cam 414 effects the operation of grippers 124 to grip the pins after which the. table moves away from rack R, removing the set of pins gripped by grippers 124. In its further movement, table T descends, turns again 90 during its downward movement and spots the new set of pins on the alley. Of course, the delivery of a new set of pins to the alley takes place after the latter has been swept clean of all standing and fallen pins by'gsweep S and the sweep has returned to its normal inoperative positionA above the alley. In the meantime, all pins of the previous or first set of pins are conveyed to the triangularizing pin rack R and the ball returned to Vthepl'ayer in the same manner as during the first cycle of the machine, therst and second cycle representing the customary two balls or one complete frame in ten pin bowling.

In order to take care of a strike cycle, when all pins are knocked-down by the' rst ball of 1a iframe, an additional set of suitable control cams (not shown) may be Vemployed to eliminate unnecessary delay in placing a new set of pins on the alley as soon as the pins of the previous set fall and/or are swept into the pit. 4

In addition to the control cams `provided for the normal operation of the bowling pin setter just described, the machine is equipped with an additional set of control cams 502, 504, sos, ses, 510, 512, 514, 516 and 51s A(Figure 18) employed for the purpose of controlling the time and sequence of operation of the various mechanisms when it is desired to replace or change sets of pins, as mentioned hereinabove. For'example, it may be desired to change one set B presently on the alley, and another set of pins A in the pin rack R, for two sets of pins C and D presently in the storage bin SB, and convey the former two sets A and B intothe storage bin.

- -The -pin change control cams 502, 504, 506, 508, 510, 512, 514, 516 and 5118 aremounted on a shaft 520operatred by Va suitable gear reduction motor 522. In order Vto changesets of pins as outlined above, Vthe player presses a push button 524 which starts the gear reduction motor 522. As cam shaft 5,20 begins to turn, a cam follower 526 on a switch arm 528 drops off a high spot 53) Vof motor control cam 502, causing switch arm 528 to close contacts 532. This shunts pushbutton 524, land assures a continuous running of motor 522 after the release of the normally open push button 524. Motor 522 keeps on running until motor.V controll cam 502 makes one lfull revolution, and cam follower 526 Vof switch arm 528 again runs on high spot v530 which breaks contacts 532 and stops motor522. No. ball is rolledl down the alley either at the 'beginning orduring thepin changing operation. YPit switch 402 is renderedk inoperative at the beginning ofthe pan-changing cycle Vwhen an arm 536 mounted on and turning with-cam shaft S20 effects an opening of the normally closed switch 432 in line 430. This arrangement prevents starting of machine cam control motor 4114 at any timeduring the .pin change cycle.

`When cam shaft 520 begins to turn, highspot 538 on alley sweep control cam- 506 engages cam follower 540 Ton a vswitch 542 causing :the latter to move from its neutral position into engagement with itsrightside contacts, as shown in Figure 18. This starts reversible alley sweep motor 270, whereupon alley sweep S sweeps the pins of set B from the alley into pit P. .As cam follower 540 of switch 542 drops from high spot 538 of cam 506 into 10W spot 544 thereof, switch Y54,2,is thrown into en- 17 gagement with its left side contacts, as viewed in Figure 18, which` causes Vmotor 2 70 to reverse its motion, thereby effecting areturn movement of sweep S to its normal position. Motor 270 stops as cam follower 5,40rides Y from low spot 544 onto the neutral portion, of vcam 506 which causes switch 542 to break its contacts, and move to its neutral oropen 'circuit position. Y

As soon as alley sweep S starts on its return stroke, high spot 546 on table control cam 510 contacts cam follower 548 of switch Y550, causing the llatter to move from its neutral position into engagement with its right side contacts, as viewed in Figure 18, thereby starting table motor 164 and, effecting an upward movement 4of table T. The latterstops and comes to pin receiving position in front of pin rack R when kcam follower 548 of switch 550 drops from high spot 546 to .a neutral portion of'cam,510, causing switch 550 to move to its circuit opening position which stops table motor Y164. f vDuring this dwell .period of tableT, pin gripper cam 508through high spot 552y and cam follower 554, actuates a switch 556 which starts pinA gripper motor 148 inmotion and eifects anengagement of the-pin glippers 124 in table T with thenecks of pins of set A resting inV pin rackR. After these pins are firmly gripped, pin gripper motor 148 stops as cam follower` 554drops from high'spot 552 onto a' neutral yportion of pin gripper control cam 508. Table T, due to the action of low spot 558 of cam 510 uponY cam follower 548, of switch 550, then moves away from rack R withdrawing the pins of set A` and descends with them toward the alley.- Upon reachingitslowermost position I, these pins are placed on the alley .and the table movement is arrested ,-ascam follower-548 of switch 550 rides fromY low spot 558 to a neutral portion on cam 510, thereby stopping 'table motor 164. A low spot 560 in pin ygripper control cam 508 through cam follower554 on switch 556 thenl sets pin gripper motor 148 in motion againrand effects arelease of pins A from' grippers 124 in table T. After. these pins arereleased, cam rfol1owerx'554 of switch 556 rides from lowspot 560 onto a neutral portion of cam 508 and stops pinpgripper motor 148. Table T, through high spot 562 on the'control cam 510 acting upon cam follower l548V of'switch 550, then ascends again and dwells as positionfII -above the alley as cam follower 548 of cam' 550 rdropsfrom the high spot 562 onto a neutral portion thereof.

In the meantime, a high spot 564 on exit gate control cam- 518 engages cam follower'566of switch arm 568 which causesa closing of contacts 570 and the energization of solenoid 394 which, infturn, through fits armature and link 392 eifectsian opening of exit gate 390. As soon as exit gate opensfthe pins of set D, stored in the bottom portion of the pin storage` bin SB, are discharged therefrom. The pin resting on gate 390'fal1sy clear of storage bin SB when gate 390 opens. "The remaining pins of set of pins D roll one Vby one along downwardly inclined shelves 380, 382 and falll'one by one into chamber F and upon the substantiallyhorizontally positioned ights 42 of moving pin conveyor CO? which carries these pins directly up to the now empty pinrack R. The movement of pins of set'D outof storage bin SB alsorresultsV in the movement of pins of' set C therein 'into the positions formerly occupied by the -pins of set D, see Figure l2. Pin conveyor COis set inmotion shortly after cam shaft 520 starts turning, and remains in motion to almost the end of the pin changing cycle. Pin conveyor motor 40, during the cycle, is controlled by cam 514 on which runs cam follower 572 on switch arm 574 which opens and closes contacts 576 in order to elfect the stopping and starting of the motor.

In order to prevent more than ten pins dropping out of storage bin SB, a pin counter 398 is located in a Ysuitable position adjacent exit gate 390. Y Counter 398 may be similar in construction to that disclosed in Patent 2,388,707, issued November 13, 1945, to Rundell.

Counter 398 consists chiefly of a ten-tooth ratchet wheel 578 pivotally supported on a stud 580. Also pivotally mounted on stud 580 is a counter arm 582 which extends into the path of pins leaving storage bin SB. Arm 582 is provided with an extension lever 584 carrying a pawl 586 which is held in engagement with ratchet wheel 578 in a well known manner by a suitable tension spring (not shown). Suitably mounted on ratchet wheel 578 is a bridge plate 590 which normally joins a pair 'of contacts 592 connected to the current supply line of cam control motor 522. Counter 398 is designed in suchv a manner that ratchet wheel 578 rotates a distance of one tooth each time pin moving out of storage bin SB temporarily depresses counter arm 582.v A suitable tension spring 588, attached to lever 584,'is provided to return arm 582 to its normal position after depression. A suitable stop pin 589 limits the return movement of arm 582; A second spring, mounted pawl 594, engaging with ratchet wheel 578, is employed to prevent backlash of the latter.

As soon as the firstpin of set D, dropping outfof 'the storage bin SB actuates counter arm 582, ratchet wheel 578 ladvances one tooth.' Since bridge plate 590 is mounted on the ratchet Wheel, vthis causes anfopening of contacts 592 and stops ca'm control motor 522. Stopping the latter, of course, effects the stopping of cam shaft 520 and all control cams mounted thereon, but, since Y the high spot 564 through cam follower 566 on switch arm 568 holds contacts 570 closed when control Vmotor 522 is stopped, contacts 570 remain closed and therefore so1enoid'394 remains energized. Consequently, exit gatev '390 remains open, and the ten pins of set D moverand drop from storage bin SB. Since cam follower 572 of switch-arm 574 also is on the high portion of pin conveyor control cam 514, contacts 576 also remain closed and pin conveyor `CO continues to move Iand conveys the pins VD to -triangularizing rack R`where they are triangularized. All other cam followers at thatp'moment are on' neutral portions oftheir respective cams, and therefore no'other mechanisms are in motion during this period. As the tenth pin of the pins of set D emerges from storage bin SB and` depresses counter `arm 582,v thev bridge platev5'90 has, after the ten stepwise movements yof ratchet'f578, returned to its original circuit closing position, and lagain connects contacts 592 which immediately causes control motor 522to startagain. The starting of motor52 2 efeots a turning of exit ,control gate cam 518, whereupon cam follower 566 drops off high spot 564 and effects a breaking of contacts 570. The breaking 'of the latter .effects a de-energizration of solenoid 394, enabling spring 391 to close exit gate 392 and. preventing the pin of 'tsetf C, in this instance, from being' removed from storage bin SB.V f

At this moment, there are a set of pins A standing on ythe alley, a set of pins B still lying in the pit, a setl of pins C arrested in thek storage binSB and a set of pins D triangularized Vresting in the pin rack' R (Figure v13). A

high spot 604 on cushion lift control'cam 512, through ycam follower 606 on a switch 608, causes an engagement of. the latter withk its right side contacts, asy viewed in Figure 18, thusfstarting Vmotor 220 and effecting an upward movement' of cushion 192 in order that pins of sert B can be swept from pit P into chamber Fvonto conveyor CO. The upward movement of backstop 192 is checked as soon as cam lfollower 606 drops from high spot 604 onto a neutral portion of cam 512, again causing switch 608 toreturn to its neutral position.

As soon as backstop 192 has been raised in the manner described, a high spot 596 on pit sweep control cam 504, through cam'follower 598; engages switch600 with its Iright side contacts, 'as illustratedin Figure 18, thereby starting pit sweep motor 260 and causing pit sweepl PS to sweep pins B from pit P beneath backstop 192 into chamber 1? onto moving pin conveyorCO.. As cam folvlower 598 of switch 600 drops from Vhigh spot 596 via a neutral to low spot 602 of cam 504, motor 260 reverses and a return stroke of pit sweep PS is effected. Pit sweep motor 260 is stopped `again as soon as cam 'follower 593 on switch 600 rides from the low spot 662 onto a neutral portion of cam 504.

`Cushion 192 remains in its lifted position until pins B are swept into chamber F, after which a low spot 616 Von cam 512 is engaged by cam follower 666, switch 668 is moved into engagement with its left contacts, as viewed in Figure 18, to start motor 220 and a downward movement of backstop 192 is effected. This downward movement stops `as cam follower 606 rides from low spot 616 onto the neutral portion of cam 514 again, thereby breaking the motor circuit.

Since pin conveyor CO moves continuously, pins of set B, as soon as they are swept by sweep PS into chamber F, are carried upwardly for delivery to rack R. In the meantime, high spot 612 on the cam 516 is engaged by cam follower 614 on a switch arm 616, causing the latter to close contacts '618 and effecting an energzation of solenoid 388. The energization of solenoid 388 through its armature and line 336, causes the opening of storage bin infeed gate 384 so that all pins of set B, while being conveyed through the U-shaped channel U by pin conveyor CO, are moved one by one through open gate 334 into pin storage bin SB. These pins, which are horizontally positioned, roll and/ or slide along inclined shelf 367, 393 and 382 and come to rest in the upper part of storage bin SB, the pins of set C occupying the bottom portion of the storage bin. Since it is desirable that a full set of ten pins be delivered to storage bin SB, a pin counter 396 is provided. This counter preferably is mounted on the top portion of said bin SB and `adjacent admission gate 364.

Pin center 396 can be of the same type and construction as counter 398 previously described. Counter 396 consists of a ten tooth ratchet wheel 620 loosely mounted on a stud 622 on which is also pivoted a counter arm 624 which extends into the path of pins moving into storage bin SB. Arm 624 is provided with an extension lever V626 carrying a spring mounted pawl 628 engaging with the teeth of ratchet wheel 626. Suitably attached to ratchet wheel 620 is a bridge plate 630 which normally connects and closes a pair of contacts 632 provided in the current supply line for cam control motor 522. There-l fore, as soon as the first pin passing counter 396 and entering the storage bin depresses counter arm 624, bridge plate 630 advances with the ratchet wheelV 620 and causes a break of contacts 632 which, of course, interrupts the ow of current to cam control motor 522 and consequently stops it. Since cam shaft 520 and all cams thereon are also stopped, switch arm 616 at this time, keeps contacts 618 closed, solenoid 388 remains energized and holds admission gate 384 open until the tenth pin has passed and the repeated actuation of counter arm 624 has brought bridge plate 630 again into position to engage both contacts 632. When this takes place, motor 522 is restarted to rotate cam shaft 520` which causes cam follower 614 on switch arm 616 to drop on? high spot 612 of cam 516, resulting in a deenergization of solenoid 393 and a closing of gate 384 with assistance of tension spring 385. Counter 396 is also provided with a suitable tension spring 634 attached to lever 626 for the purpose of biasing lever 626 against a suitable backstop 635 after each action upon counter arm 624. A second spring mounted pawl 636 engaging with ratchet 620, prevents backlash during the counting operations.

Shortly after the pins of set B have been delivered to storage bin SB, and motor 522 and cam shaft 520 have resumed their rotation, a high and low spot 638 and 630 respectively on alley sweep control cam 566, effect the customary back and forth stroke of alley sweep S, causing the latter to sweep the pins of set A from the alley Vinto pit P. At the same time, due to the action of a high spot 642 on cam 510 upon cam follower 548 and switch 550, table T is caused to move upward to pin receiving position in front of triangularizing pinrack R which at this moment supports the pins of set D. During this dwell period of table T, adjacent rack R, the pin gripper mechanism is actuated through the engagement of high spot 644 of cam 568 with cam follower 554 of switch 556 which causes in grippers 124 in table T to securely grip the necks of the pins of set D projecting outwardly from pin rack R. As soon as cam follower 554 of switch 556 drops from high spot 644 onto a neutral portion of cam 508, the pin gripper mechanism is arrested, after which cam follower 548 of switch 550 drops into low spot 646 of table control cam 568. This results in the downward movement of table T which is arrested when the latter reaches its position II above the alley and cam follower 584 of switch 550 rides from low spot 646 onto .a neutral portion of table control cam 510, the table carrying and holding the entire set of pin D above the alley. When table T comes to rest, high spot 64S of discharge or exit gate control cam 518 engages with the cam follower 566 of switch arm 568. This causes a closing of contacts 570 resulting in the energization of solenoid 394, which in turn opens the exit gate 390 at the bottom portion of pin storage bin SB.

The opening of gate 396 allows the pins of set C in the lower portion of storage bin SB to be delivered one by one from said storage bin onto the moving pin conveyor CO which carries them upwardly to pin rack R for delivery into the triangularly arranged pockets therein. The movement of pins of set C, out of storage bin SB, actuates pin counter 39S in the same manner as described heretofore in the previous operation, i.e. the first pin contacting counter arm 582 effects the stopping of cam control motor 522 and cam shaft 520, while the tenth pin causes motor to Vstart again, shortly after which, cam follower 566 of switch arm 568 drops off high spot 648 which causes the opening of contacts 570 and a de-energization of solenoid 394 resulting in a closing of gate 390.

Shortly after exit gate 390 is closed, cam follower 548 of switch 550 drops into a low spot 650 of table control cam 510 effecting a downward movement of table T and a placing of pin set D on the alley. Upon reaching its lowermost position I, table T is arrested when cam follower 548 of switch 550 rides from low spot 650 onto a neutral portion of cam 510, causing a dwelling of table T in position I. During this dwell period, cam follower 554 of switch 556 drops into low spot 652 of pin gripper control cam 508, causing the actuation of pin grippers -124 in table T to open and release the pins of set D, after which the pin grippers remain open as cam lfollower 554 of switch 556 rides from the low spot 6,52 onto the neutral portion of cam 508.

As soon as the pins of setV D are released in spotted standing positions on the alley, cam follower 548 of switch 550 engages with high spot 654 on table control cam 510, causing table T to move upward to its dwell position II above the alley where it is arrested as cam follower 548 of switch 550 drops from high spot 654 onto a neutral portion of cam 510. Also during this period, the backstop 192 is raised again as cam follower 606 of switch 608 engages with high spot 656 on backstop lift control cam 616` thereby starting cushion lift motor 220. The latter is stopped again as backstop` 192 reaches its uppermost position and follower 606 of switch 60S drops from high spot 656 onto a neutral portion of cam 512. As soon as backstop 192 is raised, pit sweep PS receives a forward and backward motion due to the operation of reversible sweep motor 260 through high and low spots 65S and 660, respectively.

The operation of pit sweepV PS cases the pins of set A to be swept from pit P into chamber F and onto. the moving pin conveyor CO. As soon as the motion of pit sweep PS stops, a high spot 662 on gate control cam 516 engages with cam follower 614 of switch arm 616 which causes a closing of contacts 618 and an energizawww tion of olenoid 388, resulting in the opening ofadmisssionv gate 384 in storage bin SB. The pins ofset A, which are being conveyed upwardly by pin conveyor CO through U-shaped channel U are delivered by flights 42 one by one through open gate 384 into pin storage bin SB, and on top of the pins ofset B. Counter 396 is actuated in the same manner as described heretofore, the irst pin stopping control motor 522, while the tenth pin causes the restarting of it and all other mechanisms indirectly controlled by said motor. Shortly after restarting motor 522,' cam follower 614 of switch arm 616 drops -from high spot 662 onto a neutral portion of cam 516, causing a breaking 'ofcontacts 618 and de-energizationof solenoid 338, which in turn, with the assistance of spring 385, results in a closing of admission gate 384. As the pin changing cycle is now completed, the high spot 530 of motor control cam 502 contacts cam follower 526 of switch arm 528 resulting in the breaking of contacts 532 and a stopping of cam control motor 522. *Before high spot 530 reaches; cam -follower 526, however, arml 536 "also recontacted switch 432 and closed the'same; The machine is-now ready again, either for normal or pin changing operation, as desired,V f f 1 It can be desired to stop the pin changing mechanism after a single set of pins has been changed .in Vorder to subject sets of pins progressively in use, a control, such as shownin Figure 19, can be used. In Figure 19,*carnY 503 .takes the place of cam 502 of Figure 18.* A two arm switch closer 535 is u'sedeinstead of. single arm switch closer 536. When push button 525is closed, motor 522 is'started and shaft 520 begins to turn. All of the cams shown in Figure 18 operate as formerly, except-that .shaft 520 is stopped after 180 rotation, when either high'portion 531 disengages from switch arm 528,. or after one set of pins in storage bin SBhas takenlthe placev of one set of pins in the machine or in use.

The' invention above described may be variedin .construction within the scope of the'4 claims because'. the-particular embodiments, selected to illustrate the invention,l i's but one of several possible 'concreteformsfofthe same. The invention is not, therefore, to be restricted to the precise detailsrof the structure shown vand described.

What I claim is:

ranged lpwiing pin' holding statins in 'said magazine,

plurality of fixed bowling pin supports inselected stationsfa'plurality'ofrnovable Vbowling pin supports at" others of said stations, a conveyor for Vconveying bowling pins to said magazine, means for guidingsaid bowling pins to said stations, and trips connected to selected movable Vsupports for moving said supports to pin supporting positions in the path of travel of bowling pins in said magazine in responseto the movement of said pins to said-fixed supports and to movable supports which have been located in pin supporting positions by the movement of said pins. e

i- 4. In a bowling pin spotting machine, a bowling pin magazine, four spaced elongated pin guides in said magazine, a iixed support in one of said guides,'a fixed pin support at the bottom of three guides, anda plurality of movable supports operatively associated with said last named three guides, said movable supports normallyY being located in inoperative positions, means operated in response to a bowling pinarriving upon a iixed support` for vmoving a movable pin 'support into operative `pin supporting position, and means operative in response. to

. bowling pins arriving upon a movable support in navell.V In a bowling pin'spotting machine lforuse Ivi/itli'a'-Y bowling alley, la bowling pinY triangularizing magazine, means mounting said magazine above. said alley in a plane substantially' perpendicular tothe plane Vofthe .playing surface of said bowling alley, a plurality of triangularly arranged bowling-pin supporting -unitsflocated in said magazine,` each of said units-including bowling pin supportingmembe'rs lfor holding a bowling pin in saidunits in lsubstantially horizontal position, conveying mechanism 'forl delivering a succession of bowling pinsito said magazine, and means cooperating with each of said forelecting the selective delivery of a bowling pinto a selected unit, whereby said pins are arranged in substantially triangular arrangementfor removal .and placement onsaidalley.' f Y j Y 2. InV a bowling pin' spotting machineforuse with a bowling-alley, a bowling'pin triangularizing magazine, means mounting -saidmagazine ina plane substantially; perpendicular to the plane of the playing surface' ofsaid bowling alley, a plurality of triangularly Yarranged bowling pin. supporting units located in said magazine, each of saidfunits including bowling pin supporting members for holding a bowling pin in 4said units 'in substantially horizontal position, conveying :mechanism for delivering a succession-'of bowling pins tofsaid magazine, mechanism foriorienting improperly positioned bowling pins for delivery in predetermined arrangement to said` magazine, and means cooperating with each of said units for effecting the selective delivery of a bowling pin to a selected unit. .Y w 3;' In agbowling pin spotting' machine, a bowlingY pin reggente. a l.Duality of Substantially. .triangularly ing along two of said last-named three guides fori-moving" another. of said. movable supports 'to' operative pin supporting position, and means operative when Valliofv said supports in said three' guides are filled for delivering a pin to said ixed support in said inst-named guide. v

.5. In a bowling pin spotting machine, -apin magazine,"V

a plurality of elongated pin guides in said magazine, a fixed bowling pin support at the bottomof each guide, movable pin Vsupports associated with a plurality ofv said guides, means normally maintaining said movable supports in inoperative position until a bowling'pin isllo-. cated in said fixed supports, trips actuated by'a majority of said pinsin said 4fixed supports for. locating an adjacent movable' support in pin supporting position, andpin actuated trips associated with said'other ofsaid mov-'f able supports for moving said last-named `movable sup-v ports, into operative supporting .position -inv said guidesv when said lirst-named of said movablesupports is supporting a bowling pin, in response to the movement of pinsalong pathsby which pins are supplied to said fixed. supports. j L 6; I n a .bowling pin spottingmachine, a pin magazine, four elongated pin guides in said magazine, a xed bowling pin support at the bottom of each guide, movable `pinwsupports -associated with a plurality of said guides, `means normally maintaining said movable supports in inoperative position until a bowlinggpin is located in said f tired supports, trips in said. guides actuated by'a majority` of said pins in said fixed supports for locating the movable support adjacent saidxed support in pin supporting position, otherpin actuated trips in said'guides asso-` ciated with the other of said movable supports remote from said lixed supports `for moving said remote movable supports into operative supporting position when said adjacent movable support is supporting a bowling-pin, and a trapdoor located adjacent the entrance to three of said guides vconstructed and arrangedto be closed by the last pin entering each of said guides to control the -proper delivery 'of bowling pins to said magazine.

. 7. In 'a bowling pin spotting machine, a bowling pin magazine, four spaced elongated pin guides in said magazine, a fixed support in one of said guides, a fixed support at the.' end of each of said other three guides, a. plurality of movable supports mounted equidistantly .along said last named three guides, means normally positioning said movable supports in inoperative positions, means operated by bowling pins engaging xed supports in said last namedthree guides for moving the adjacent movable pin supports into operative pin supporting position, means operated lin responsek to lsubsequent successive bowling pins movingthrough said last-named three guides and arriving Pena .movablesvrpgrt .for movin; @ether .119e

mallyinoperatively positioned movable support into operative pin supporting position, and means-operative when all of said supports in said three last-named guides are in pin supporting position for delivering a pin to said fixed support in said lirst-named guide.

8. In a Vbowling pin spotting machine for use with a bowling alley, a pin magazine, means mounting said magazine in a fixed plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of said alley, a plurality of substantially triangularly arranged pin supporting units in said magazine, supports in each of said units for holding a bowling pin with its longitudinal axis in a substantially horizontal plane, a conveyor having a 'plurality of individual bowling pin conveying flights for delivering pins toward said units, means for selectively removing said pins from said flights into said units, pin guiding and positioning devices in said magazine for guiding pins delivered by said flights to said supports, a bowling pin spotter, means for positioning said spotter in a plane substantially parallel with the plane of said magazine, a plurality of pin grippers in said spotter, means for operating said grippers to grip `and hold `said triangularized pins in said magazine for removal therefrom by said spotter for placement on Said alley, and means for moving said spotter to remove pins from-said pin magazine and place them on said alley. 9. A bowling pin spotting machine for use on a bowling alley having a pit at one end thereof, means for removing bowling pins from said pit including a conveyor having a plurality of bowling pin lifting and conveying flights, a substantially vertically positioned stationary pin triangularizing magazine mounted above said pit, means for operating said conveyor to move bowling pins engaged by said ights one by One toward Said magazine, a 'plurality of substantially tiiangularly arranged pin holders in said magazine, means for selectively removing said pins from said conveyor into said pin holders, supports in each of said holdersV for holding a bowling pin in substantially horizontal position with a portion thereof projecting outwardlyfrom said magazine, a bowling pin setter, a plurality of substantially triangularly arranged gripper units carried by said setter, mechanism for moving and turning Said setter to located said grippers of said units in a plane substantially parallel with the plane of said magazine and in position to grip said projecting portions of said triangularized pins in said magazine, and means for operating said grippers to grip said portions of said'bowling pins, and mechanism for moving said setter with triangularized` bowling pins held by said gripper units away from said stationary magazine and turning said setter into pin spotting position substantially parallel with said alley.

l0. A bowling pin spotting machine for use on a bowling alley having a pit at one end thereof, means for removing fallen pins from said pin including a conveyor having a plurality of bowling pin lifting and conveying flights, a substantially vertically positioned stationary pin triangularizing magazine mounted above said pit, means for operating said conveyor to move bowling pins engaged by said flights one by one toward said magazine, a plurality of substantially triangularly arranged pin holders in said magazine, means for selectively removing said pins from said conveyor into said pin holders, supports in each of said holders for holding a bowling pin in substantially horizontal position with the handle end thereof projecting outwardly in spaced substantially parallel planes from' said magazine, a bowling pin setter, a plurality of substantially triangularly arranged gripper units carried by said setter, mechanism for moving and turning said setter to locate said grippers in a plane substantially parallel with the plane of said magazine and in position Vto engage the handle ends of said triangularized pins in said magazine, and means for operating said grippers to grip said handle ends of said bowling pin, and mechanism including means for moving and turning said 24 setter with said triangularized-bowling'pins 'held by said gripper units away from said stationary Vmagazine and into pin spotting position-substantially parallel with said alley.

1l. A bowling pin spotting machine, mechanism for removing bowling pins from the pit of a bowling alley, said mechanism including a conveyor, a substantially vertically positioned stationary bowling pin magazine, supports mounting said magazine against movement, pin supporting units located in fixed substantially triangular arrangement in said magazine, said units having supporting members constructed and arranged to support bowling pins with the longitudinal axes thereof in substantially horizontal positions, means for operating said conveyor to move single pins in succession toward said units, means for selectively removing said pins from said conveyor into said units, a pin spotter, mechanism for rnoving and turning said pin spotter into a plane substantially parallel with the plane of said magazine, means in said spotter for gripping and holding pins in said magazine, means for moving said spotter away from said magazine for removing a set of horizontal triangularly arranged pins from said stationary magazine and for turning said spotter into pin spotting position substantially parallel with said alley.

12. A bowling pin spotting machine for use with a bowling alley having a pit adjacent the bowling pin supporting bed thereof, said pit having a pin supporting portion, mechanism for removing bowling pins from said pit, said mechanism including a bowling pin conveyorhaving a plurality of pin lifting and conveying flights, said conveyor having a closed path of travel with a substantially horizontal path of travel extending transversely across said pit, means for positioning said nights in substantially horizontal pin receiving floor forming arrangement to engage bowling pins received into said pit from said alley andv move said pins across said pit to one side thereof to a substantially vertically upward path of travel of said conveyor, means for moving bowlingv pins from said pin supporting portion of said pit onto said substantially horizotnally positioned flights, a pin magazine, means mounting said magazine above said pit and proximate one path of travel of said conveyor to receive pins delivered thereto by said ights of said .conveyor to receive pins delivered thereto by said nights of said conveyor with their handle ends all extending in the same direction, triangularly positioned pin supporting units in said magazine for vreceiving and holding pins delivered thereto by said flights in substantially horizontal triangular formation, mechanism adjacent said vertically upward path of travel of 'flights on said conveyor for orienting improperly positioned bowling pins carried by said flights, and means for re-directing an oriented bowling pin downwardly onto an oncoming night of said conveyor for movement in properly aligned arrangement toY one of said units in said magazine.

13. A bowling pin spotting machine for use with a bowling alley having a pit :adjacent the pin supporting end thereof, a pin magazine, means mounting said magazine above said pit, a vplurality of bowling pin receiving positions in said magazine, a plurality of pin holding units in said magazine operatively'associatedi with4 said pin receiving positions, each of said units being constructed Vand arranged to support a single bowling pin in substantially horizontal position with Vthe handle ends thereof all extending in the same direction, mechanism for removing bowling pins from said pit, said mechanism including an endless conveyor encircling said magazine, flights carried by said conveyor for receiving substantially horizontally arranged bowling pins removed from said pit and carrying said substantially horizontal pins one by one lfor successive delivery, with the handle ends thereof all extending in the ,same direction, to said magazine, said flights being'constructed and-arranged torelease pins carried thereby at said pin receiving positions, means for effecting the transfer of pins from said pin ,receivingY positions to said pinholding units, means foreffectingthe removal of improperly positioned bowling pins from the range of operation of one tlight, and an orienting device for repositioning each pin removed into predetermined arrangement with the handle end thereof extendingin the same direction as pins delivered by said flights to said l' to effect the `delivery of a-succession of single pins into magazine, and redirecting said repositioned pin into the Y range of action of another flight.

14. A bowling-pin spotting machine foruse with a bowling alley having a pit at oneV end thereof provided with a pin supporting portion, an endless conveyor having a closed path of travelwith a substantial lower portion thereof substantially horizontal through said pit toengage pins in said pit and move them; a plurality of movably mounted flights mounted in spaced relation equidistantlyV along the length of said conveyor, a pusher for moving pins from said pit onto said horizontally positioned moving conveyor, a pin triangularizing magazine, having a plurality of pin depositing stations, a plurality of triangularly arranged pin receiving and supporting units mounted in said magazine and operatively associated with said stations, means mounting said magazine above said pit and in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of said bowling alley with said pin stations' adjacent the upper portion of said conveyor, and means for operating said conveyor to cause said ights to lift single pins, one by one, and transport the same vertically along a side of said magazine, said pin flights being constructed and arranged to deliver pins at the upper portion of said conveyor to said pin stations for transfer in succession to said units of said magazine.

15. A bowling pin spotting machine for use with a bowling alley having a pit at one end thereof, means for removing fallen pins and balls from said pit, including a ball lift, and pin separating device, a pin conveyor having a substantially horizontal lap extending transversely of saidv pit constructed and arranged to receive bowling pins from said first-named means, a plurality of individual pin forwarding and lifting flights carried by said conveyor,

a magazine mounted ahovegsaid pit in a plane at right angles to the plane o f said alley and having a pluralityof pin receiving units, a plurality1 of iixed substantially tri- Iangularly positioned pin holding'stations located in said magazine adapted to holdV bowling pins in substantially ing said flights on said conveyor to effect the release. of pins lifted thereby at said pin receiving units, means for delivering pins from said pin receiving units to said pin holding stations, and means operative upon the delivery of a substantially horizontal bowling pin to one of said stations from one of said llights to condition another of said stations so as to be loaded from the next successive pin-forwarding flight of said conveyor.

said openings of said magazine. Y

17. In a machine of the type definedk in vclaim 16, a

' U -shaped guide mounted in said substantially vertical pin lifting path of travel of said conveyor, means constraining said conveyor to move through said guide, means for positioning said flights substantially vertically to move bowling pins Vthrough said guide, a device in said guide for removng improperly oriented pins from engagement with said flights, and means for maintaining properly oriented pins in operative lifting engagement with said flights for delivery in properly oriented position to said magazine. v

18. In a bowling pin spotting machine, a bowling pin magazine, a plurality of spacedpin receiving stations in said magazine, a plurality of substantially triangularly arranged stationary pin holding units in said magazine operatively associated with said pin receiving stations,

i means mounting said magazine in a substantially vertical plane, saidk pin stations being disposed adjacent the top portion of said magazine, a conveyor for delivering ai succession of horizontally positioned pins to said magazine, said conveyor having a portion thereof disposed in pin delivering relationship with said pin receiving stations, means for causing pins carried by said conveyor to be deliveredk to said pin stations and hence to said units, and trip means associated with selected units, said trip means being operative in response to a pin entering one of said units for conditioning an adjacent empty unit to receive the next successive pin deliveredfrom said conveyor to said magazine.

19. In a bowling pin spotting machine, a bowling pin` magazine, means mounting said magazine-in 'a substantially vertical plane, a plurality of spaced pin-receiving positions disposed along the top of said magazine, a plurality of'substantially'triangularly arranged fixed pin i i holding'units in said magazine, each of said units having supporting elements for holding a bowling pin a substantially horizontal position in said magazine, a conhorizontal arrangement, means for moving said` 'conveyor to travel said flights toward said magazine, means mount-xr veyor for delivering a succession of'substantially horizontally positioned pins lto said pin-receiving positions of said magazine, said conveyor having a stretch disposed in pin delivering relationship with said pin receiving positions, means for causing pins carried by said conveyor i to be delivered to said pinreceiving positions, means 16. In a bowling pinspotting machine for use with a bowling alley having a pit at one end thereof, a pin magazine, means mounting said magazine` in vasubstantially vertical plane, said magazine'having pin delivery openings in the top thereof, an endless pin conveyor located at one side of said pit, said conveyorhaving a substantially horizontal path of travel extending transversely of said pit, a substantially vertical pin'lifting path of travel extending upwardly at one side of said pit, a substantially horiand a substantially vertical returning path of travel into said pit; said paths of movement of said conveyor encircling said magazine; a plurality of movable flights mounted equidistantly along said conveyor, means progressively g moving said flights into substantially abutting pin floor forming relationship along said path of travel in -said pit, to engage bowling pins received -into said pit from said lalley and to move said pins across said pit to one side` for delivering pins from said pin receiving stations to said pin holding units and trip means associated with selected units, said trip means being operative in response to a pin entering one of said units for conditioning` an adjacent empty unit to receive the next successive pin delivered from said conveyor to said magazine.

1 AReferences Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,297,951 Wheeler Mar. 18, 1919 1,692,796 Bishop Nov. 20, 1928 1,706,271 Williams Mar. 19, 1929 1,784,084 Williams f. Dec. 9, 1930 2,388,708 Bates Nov. 13, 1945 2,550,835 MacFarland May 1,1951 2,609,200 Rundell Sept. 2, 1952 2,622,879 Frye Dec. 23, 1952 2,625,397r Fryey Ian. 13, 1953 2,668,713 Anderson Feb. 9, 1954 2,672,341 Flint Mar. 16, 1954Y 2,686,053 Phillips Aug. 10, 1954' Dowd et al Sept. 14, 1954 

